House, Vichy Dems vote to ban FCC enforcement of the Fairness Doctrine!

[draft_mario_cuomo]

Once again Vichy Dems sell out to the right-wing. :puke:


House votes to ban FCC on ‘fairness’

== By Alexander Bolton
June 29, 2007
The House voted overwhelmingly yesterday to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from using taxpayer dollars to impose the Fairness Doctrine on broadcasters who feature conservative radio hosts such as Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity.

By a vote of 309-115, lawmakers amended the Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill to bar the FCC from requiring broadcasters to balance conservative content with liberal programming such as Air America. ==

==Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said on Tuesday that the government should revive the Fairness Doctrine, a policy crafted in 1929 that required broadcasters to balance political content with different points of view.==

==Conservatives fear that forcing stations to make equal time for liberal talk radio would slash profits and pressure radio executives to scale back on conservative programming to avoid escalating costs and interference from government regulators. Opponents of the Fairness Doctrine argue that radio stations would suffer financially if forced to air liberal as well as conservative programs because liberal talk radio has not proven popular or profitable. For example, Air America, liberals’ answer to “The Rush Limbaugh Show” and Michael Medved, filed for bankruptcy in October.==

Read the rest at http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/house-votes--to-ban-fcc-on-fairness-2007-06-29.html

[MannyGoldstein]

1. Idiots n/t

[draft_mario_cuomo]

2. Exactly. 41% of people STILL believe Saddam was involved in 9/11

Can't Vichy Dems show a spine for once and realize that the prevalence of such disinformation hurts them? If people knew even half the truth in 2004 Kerry would have won in a landslide.

[WCGreen]

3. It's kind of pathetic that only 115 dems think fairness is...

an American Ideal...

[TechBear_Seattle]

4. Does anyone have a roll call?

I would like to see which Democrats betrayed the American people and the Constitution this time.

I have $10 that says Clinton was one of the 309.

[ben_meyers]

5. Clinton? You lose!

[John Q. Citizen]

6. I'll take that bet. It was done in the House, and Clinton is in the Senate. Please send my

$10 to The Kucinich campaign through DU's Act Blue portal.;)

I'd like to see the house vote break down as well.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

7. Here is the vote break down (113 sellout Dems)

Totals & Party Breakdown
Total Democrat Republican Independent
Ayes: 309 (71%)
113 196 0
Nays: 115 (26%)
115 0 0
Present: 1 (0%)
1 0 0
No Vote: 12 (3%)
6 5 0
Required: Simple Majority of 425 votes

otes
Vote

District

Representative

No Vote HI-1 Abercrombie, Neil
Nay NY-5 Ackerman, Gary
Nay ME-1 Allen, Thomas
Aye PA-4 Altmire, Jason
Aye NJ-1 Andrews, Robert
Nay NY-24 Arcuri, Michael
Aye CA-43 Baca, Joe
Nay WA-3 Baird, Brian
Nay WI-2 Baldwin, Tammy
Aye GA-12 Barrow, John
Aye IL-8 Bean, Melissa
Nay CA-31 Becerra, Xavier
Nay NV-1 Berkley, Shelley
Aye CA-28 Berman, Howard
Nay AR-1 Berry, Robert
Nay GA-2 Bishop, Sanford
Aye NY-1 Bishop, Timothy
Nay OR-3 Blumenauer, Earl
Aye GU-0 Bordallo, Madeleine
Aye OK-2 Boren, Dan
Nay IA-3 Boswell, Leonard
Aye VA-9 Boucher, Frederick
Aye FL-2 Boyd, F.
Nay KS-2 Boyda, Nancy
Nay PA-1 Brady, Robert
Nay IA-1 Braley, Bruce
Aye FL-3 Brown, Corrine
Nay NC-1 Butterfield, George
Nay CA-23 Capps, Lois
Nay MA-8 Capuano, Michael
Aye CA-18 Cardoza, Dennis
Aye MO-3 Carnahan, Russ
Nay PA-10 Carney, Christopher
Aye IN-7 Carson, Julia
Aye FL-11 Castor, Kathy
Aye KY-6 Chandler, Ben
Aye VI-0 Christensen, Donna
Nay NY-11 Clarke, Yvette
Nay MO-1 Clay, William
Nay MO-5 Cleaver, Emanuel
Nay SC-6 Clyburn, James
Present TN-9 Cohen, Steve
Nay MI-14 Conyers, John
Aye TN-5 Cooper, Jim
Aye CA-20 Costa, Jim
Aye IL-12 Costello, Jerry
Aye CT-2 Courtney, Joe
Aye AL-5 Cramer, Robert
Aye NY-7 Crowley, Joseph
Aye TX-28 Cuellar, Henry
Aye MD-7 Cummings, Elijah
Aye AL-7 Davis, Artur
Nay IL-7 Davis, Danny
Aye TN-4 Davis, Lincoln
Nay CA-53 Davis, Susan
Nay OR-4 DeFazio, Peter
Aye CO-1 DeGette, Diana
Aye MA-10 Delahunt, William
Nay CT-3 DeLauro, Rosa
Aye WA-6 Dicks, Norman
Nay MI-15 Dingell, John
Nay TX-25 Doggett, Lloyd
Aye IN-2 Donnelly, Joe
Nay PA-14 Doyle, Michael
Aye TX-17 Edwards, Thomas
Nay MN-5 Ellison, Keith
Aye IN-8 Ellsworth, Brad
Aye IL-5 Emanuel, Rahm
Aye NY-17 Engel, Eliot
Nay CA-14 Eshoo, Anna
Aye NC-2 Etheridge, Bob
Aye AS-0 Faleomavaega, Eni
Nay CA-17 Farr, Sam
Nay PA-2 Fattah, Chaka
Nay CA-51 Filner, Bob
Nay MA-4 Frank, Barney
Aye AZ-8 Giffords, Gabrielle
Aye NY-20 Gillibrand, Kirsten
Nay TX-20 Gonzalez, Charles
Aye TN-6 Gordon, Barton
Nay TX-9 Green, Al
Aye TX-29 Green, Raymond
Nay AZ-7 Grijalva, Raul
Nay IL-4 Gutierrez, Luis
Nay NY-19 Hall, John
Aye IL-17 Hare, Phil
Nay CA-36 Harman, Jane
Aye FL-23 Hastings, Alcee
Aye SD-0 Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie
Nay NY-27 Higgins, Brian
Aye IN-9 Hill, Baron
Nay NY-22 Hinchey, Maurice
No Vote TX-15 Hinojosa, Rubén
Nay HI-2 Hirono, Mazie
Nay NH-2 Hodes, Paul
Aye PA-17 Holden, Tim
Nay NJ-12 Holt, Rush
Nay CA-15 Honda, Michael
Aye OR-5 Hooley, Darlene
Nay MD-5 Hoyer, Steny
Aye WA-1 Inslee, Jay
Aye NY-2 Israel, Steve
Nay IL-2 Jackson, Jesse
Aye TX-18 Jackson-Lee, Sheila
Nay LA-2 Jefferson, William
Nay TX-30 Johnson, Eddie
Nay GA-4 Johnson, Henry
Nay OH-11 Jones, Stephanie
Aye WI-8 Kagen, Steve
Nay PA-11 Kanjorski, Paul
Nay OH-9 Kaptur, Marcy
Nay RI-1 Kennedy, Patrick
Aye MI-5 Kildee, Dale
Nay MI-13 Kilpatrick, Carolyn
Aye WI-3 Kind, Ronald
Nay FL-22 Klein, Ron
Nay OH-10 Kucinich, Dennis
Aye TX-22 Lampson, Nicholas
Nay RI-2 Langevin, James
Aye CA-12 Lantos, Tom
Nay WA-2 Larsen, Rick
Nay CT-1 Larson, John
Nay CA-9 Lee, Barbara
Nay MI-12 Levin, Sander
Nay GA-5 Lewis, John
Aye IL-3 Lipinski, Daniel
Nay IA-2 Loebsack, David
Nay CA-16 Lofgren, Zoe
Nay NY-18 Lowey, Nita
Aye MA-9 Lynch, Stephen
Aye FL-16 Mahoney, Tim
Nay NY-14 Maloney, Carolyn
Nay MA-7 Markey, Edward
Aye GA-8 Marshall, James
Aye UT-2 Matheson, Jim
Nay CA-5 Matsui, Doris
Aye NY-4 McCarthy, Carolyn
Nay MN-4 McCollum, Betty
Nay WA-7 McDermott, James
Nay MA-3 McGovern, James
Aye NC-7 McIntyre, Mike
Nay CA-11 McNerney, Jerry
No Vote NY-21 McNulty, Michael
Nay MA-5 Meehan, Martin
Aye FL-17 Meek, Kendrick
Aye NY-6 Meeks, Gregory
Aye LA-3 Melancon, Charles
Aye ME-2 Michaud, Michael
Nay CA-7 Miller, George
Aye NC-13 Miller, R.
Aye AZ-5 Mitchell, Harry
Aye WV-1 Mollohan, Alan
Aye KS-3 Moore, Dennis
Nay WI-4 Moore, Gwen
Nay VA-8 Moran, James
Aye CT-5 Murphy, Christopher
Aye PA-8 Murphy, Patrick
Nay PA-12 Murtha, John
Nay NY-8 Nadler, Jerrold
Aye CA-38 Napolitano, Grace
Nay MA-2 Neal, Richard
Aye DC-0 Norton, Eleanor
Aye MN-8 Oberstar, James
Aye WI-7 Obey, David
Nay MA-1 Olver, John
No Vote TX-27 Ortiz, Solomon
Nay NJ-6 Pallone, Frank
Nay NJ-8 Pascrell, William
Nay AZ-4 Pastor, Edward
Nay NJ-10 Payne, Donald
Aye CO-7 Perlmutter, Ed
Aye MN-7 Peterson, Collin
Aye ND-0 Pomeroy, Earl
Nay NC-4 Price, David
Aye WV-3 Rahall, Nick
Nay NY-15 Rangel, Charles
Aye TX-16 Reyes, Silvestre
Aye TX-23 Rodriguez, Ciro
Aye AR-4 Ross, Mike
Aye NJ-9 Rothman, Steven
Aye CA-34 Roybal-Allard, Lucille
Aye MD-2 Ruppersberger, C.A.
Aye IL-1 Rush, Bobby
Aye OH-17 Ryan, Timothy
Aye CO-3 Salazar, John
Nay CA-39 Sanchez, Linda
Nay CA-47 Sanchez, Loretta
Aye MD-3 Sarbanes, John
Nay IL-9 Schakowsky, Janice
Nay CA-29 Schiff, Adam
Aye PA-13 Schwartz, Allyson
Aye GA-13 Scott, David
Nay VA-3 Scott, Robert
Aye NY-16 Serrano, José
Nay PA-7 Sestak, Joe
Aye NH-1 Shea-Porter, Carol
Aye CA-27 Sherman, Brad
Aye NC-11 Shuler, Heath
Aye NJ-13 Sires, Albio
Aye MO-4 Skelton, Ike
Nay NY-28 Slaughter, Louise
Aye WA-9 Smith, Adam
Aye AR-2 Snyder, Victor
Nay CA-32 Solis, Hilda
Aye OH-18 Space, Zackary
Aye SC-5 Spratt, John
Nay CA-13 Stark, Fortney
Aye MI-1 Stupak, Bart
Nay OH-13 Sutton, Betty
Aye TN-8 Tanner, John
Nay CA-10 Tauscher, Ellen
Aye MS-4 Taylor, Gene
Nay MS-2 Thompson, Bennie
Nay CA-1 Thompson, C.
No Vote MA-6 Tierney, John
Nay NY-10 Towns, Edolphus
Aye CO-2 Udall, Mark
Aye NM-3 Udall, Tom
Nay MD-8 Van Hollen, Christopher
Nay NY-12 Velazquez, Nydia
Aye IN-1 Visclosky, Peter
Aye MN-1 Walz, Timothy
Nay FL-20 Wasserman Schultz, Debbie
Nay CA-35 Waters, Maxine
Nay CA-33 Watson, Diane
Nay NC-12 Watt, Melvin
No Vote CA-30 Waxman, Henry
Aye NY-9 Weiner, Anthony
Nay VT-0 Welch, Peter
Nay FL-19 Wexler, Robert
Aye OH-6 Wilson, Charles
Nay CA-6 Woolsey, Lynn
Nay OR-1 Wu, David
Nay MD-4 Wynn, Albert
Aye KY-3 Yarmuth, John
Aye AL-4 Aderholt, Robert
Aye MO-2 Akin, W.
Aye LA-5 Alexander, Rodney
Aye MN-6 Bachmann, Michele
Aye AL-6 Bachus, Spencer
Aye LA-6 Baker, Richard
Aye SC-3 Barrett, James
Aye MD-6 Bartlett, Roscoe
Aye TX-6 Barton, Joe
Aye IL-13 Biggert, Judy
Aye CA-50 Bilbray, Brian
Aye FL-9 Bilirakis, Gus
Aye UT-1 Bishop, Rob
Aye TN-7 Blackburn, Marsha
Aye MO-7 Blunt, Roy
Aye OH-8 Boehner, John
Aye AL-1 Bonner, Jo
Aye CA-45 Bono, Mary
Aye AR-3 Boozman, John
Aye LA-7 Boustany, Charles
Aye TX-8 Brady, Kevin
Aye SC-1 Brown, Henry
Aye FL-5 Brown-Waite, Virginia
Aye FL-13 Buchanan, Vern
Aye TX-26 Burgess, Michael
Aye IN-5 Burton, Dan
Aye IN-4 Buyer, Stephen
Aye CA-44 Calvert, Ken
Aye MI-4 Camp, David
Aye CA-48 Campbell, John
Aye UT-3 Cannon, Christopher
Aye VA-7 Cantor, Eric
Aye WV-2 Capito, Shelley
Aye TX-31 Carter, John
Aye DE-0 Castle, Michael
Aye OH-1 Chabot, Steven
Aye NC-6 Coble, Howard
Aye OK-4 Cole, Tom
Aye TX-11 Conaway, K.
Aye FL-4 Crenshaw, Ander
Aye WY-0 Cubin, Barbara
Aye TX-7 Culberson, John
Aye TN-1 Davis, David
Aye KY-4 Davis, Geoff
No Vote VA-1 Davis, Jo Ann
Aye VA-11 Davis, Thomas
Aye GA-9 Deal, Nathan
Aye PA-15 Dent, Charles
Aye FL-21 Diaz-Balart, Lincoln
Aye FL-25 Diaz-Balart, Mario
Aye CA-4 Doolittle, John
Aye VA-2 Drake, Thelma
Aye CA-26 Dreier, David
Aye TN-2 Duncan, John
Aye MI-3 Ehlers, Vernon
Aye MO-8 Emerson, Jo Ann
Aye PA-3 English, Philip
Aye AL-2 Everett, Terry
Aye OK-5 Fallin, Mary
Aye FL-24 Feeney, Tom
Aye NJ-7 Ferguson, Michael
Aye AZ-6 Flake, Jeff
No Vote VA-4 Forbes, James
Aye NE-1 Fortenberry, Jeffrey
Aye NY-13 Fossella, Vito
Aye NC-5 Foxx, Virginia
Aye AZ-2 Franks, Trent
Aye NJ-11 Frelinghuysen, Rodney
Aye CA-24 Gallegly, Elton
Aye NJ-5 Garrett, E.
Aye PA-6 Gerlach, Jim
Aye MD-1 Gilchrest, Wayne
Aye OH-5 Gillmor, Paul
Aye GA-11 Gingrey, John
Aye TX-1 Gohmert, Louis
Aye VA-5 Goode, Virgil
Aye VA-6 Goodlatte, Robert
Aye TX-12 Granger, Kay
Aye MO-6 Graves, Samuel
Aye TX-4 Hall, Ralph
No Vote IL-14 Hastert, J.
Aye WA-4 Hastings, Doc
Aye NC-8 Hayes, Robin
Aye NV-2 Heller, Dean
Aye TX-5 Hensarling, Jeb
Aye CA-2 Herger, Walter
Aye OH-7 Hobson, David
Aye MI-2 Hoekstra, Peter
Aye MO-9 Hulshof, Kenny
Aye CA-52 Hunter, Duncan
Aye SC-4 Inglis, Bob
Aye CA-49 Issa, Darrell
Aye LA-1 Jindal, Bobby
Aye TX-3 Johnson, Samuel
Aye IL-15 Johnson, Timothy
Aye NC-3 Jones, Walter
Aye OH-4 Jordan, Jim
Aye FL-8 Keller, Ric
Aye NY-3 King, Peter
Aye IA-5 King, Steve
Aye GA-1 Kingston, Jack
Aye IL-10 Kirk, Mark
Aye MN-2 Kline, John
Aye MI-9 Knollenberg, Joseph
Aye NY-29 Kuhl, John
No Vote IL-18 LaHood, Ray
Aye CO-5 Lamborn, Doug
Aye IA-4 Latham, Thomas
Aye OH-14 LaTourette, Steven
Aye CA-41 Lewis, Jerry
Aye KY-2 Lewis, Ron
Aye GA-7 Linder, John
Aye NJ-2 LoBiondo, Frank
Aye OK-3 Lucas, Frank
Aye CA-3 Lungren, Daniel
Aye FL-14 Mack, Connie
Aye IL-16 Manzullo, Donald
Aye TX-24 Marchant, Kenny
Aye CA-22 McCarthy, Kevin
Aye TX-10 McCaul, Michael
Aye MI-11 McCotter, Thaddeus
Aye LA-4 McCrery, James
Aye NC-10 Mchenry, Patrick
Aye NY-23 McHugh, John
Aye CA-25 McKeon, Howard
Aye WA-5 McMorris Rodgers, Cathy
Aye FL-7 Mica, John
Aye MI-10 Miller, Candice
Aye CA-42 Miller, Gary
Aye FL-1 Miller, Jeff
Aye KS-1 Moran, Jerry
Aye PA-18 Murphy, Tim
Aye CO-4 Musgrave, Marilyn
Aye NC-9 Myrick, Sue
Aye TX-19 Neugebauer, Randy
Aye CA-21 Nunes, Devin
Aye TX-14 Paul, Ronald
Aye NM-2 Pearce, Steven
Aye IN-6 Pence, Mike
Aye PA-5 Peterson, John
Aye WI-6 Petri, Thomas
Aye MS-3 Pickering, Charles
Aye PA-16 Pitts, Joseph
Aye PA-19 Platts, Todd
Aye TX-2 Poe, Ted
Aye NV-3 Porter, Jon
Aye GA-6 Price, Tom
Aye OH-15 Pryce, Deborah
Aye FL-12 Putnam, Adam
Aye CA-19 Radanovich, George
Aye MN-3 Ramstad, James
Aye OH-16 Regula, Ralph
Aye MT-0 Rehberg, Dennis
Aye WA-8 Reichert, Dave
Aye AZ-1 Renzi, Rick
Aye NY-26 Reynolds, Thomas
Aye KY-5 Rogers, Harold
Aye AL-3 Rogers, Michael
Aye MI-8 Rogers, Michael
Aye CA-46 Rohrabacher, Dana
Aye IL-6 Roskam, Peter
Aye FL-18 Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana
Aye CA-40 Royce, Edward
Aye WI-1 Ryan, Paul
Aye ID-1 Sali, Bill
Aye NJ-3 Saxton, H.
Aye OH-2 Schmidt, Jean
Aye WI-5 Sensenbrenner, F.
No Vote TX-32 Sessions, Peter
Aye AZ-3 Shadegg, John
Aye CT-4 Shays, Christopher
Aye IL-19 Shimkus, John
Aye PA-9 Shuster, William
Aye ID-2 Simpson, Michael
Aye NE-3 Smith, Adrian
Aye NJ-4 Smith, Christopher
Aye TX-21 Smith, Lamar
Aye IN-3 Souder, Mark
Aye FL-6 Stearns, Clifford
Aye OK-1 Sullivan, John
Aye CO-6 Tancredo, Thomas
Aye NE-2 Terry, Lee
Aye TX-13 Thornberry, William
Aye KS-4 Tiahrt, Todd
Aye OH-12 Tiberi, Patrick
Aye OH-3 Turner, Michael
Aye MI-6 Upton, Frederick
Aye MI-7 Walberg, Timothy
Aye OR-2 Walden, Greg
Aye NY-25 Walsh, James
Aye TN-3 Wamp, Zach
Aye FL-15 Weldon, David
Aye IL-11 Weller, Gerald
Aye GA-3 Westmoreland, Lynn
Aye KY-1 Whitfield, Edward
Aye MS-1 Wicker, Roger
Aye SC-2 Wilson, Addison
Aye NM-1 Wilson, Heather
Aye VA-10 Wolf, Frank
Aye FL-10 Young, C. W.
Aye AK-0 Young, Donald
No Vote PR-0 Fortuno, Luis

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=h2007-599&sort=party

[Le Taz Hot]

25. Linda and Loretta Sanchez voted "nay?"

Well, I WAS going to support Linda Sanchez should she choose to make a gubanatorial run at some point. Not now.

[Heath Hatcher]

27. Your not going to support her all because of one vote?

Streaching this out a little bit aren't we?

[Trajan]

39. Kucinich voted 'Nay' ....

Ever notice your avatar ?

[Le Taz Hot]

40. OK, I retract that.

If Kooch voted "Nay" there was a reason.

[TechBear_Seattle]

11. DOH!

I knew that. Really, I did. :blush:

I get paid today; a donation in your alias will be sent this weekend.

[onenote]

8. Here's the roll call. And can I have my ten dollars?

Pretty embarassing if you don't know that Clinton is a Senator not a member of the House (or that you don't realize that the Senate doesn't have 435 members).

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll599.xml

[Freddie Stubbs]

9. Here is the roll call:

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll599.xml

[wyldwolf]

10. LOL! LOL! LOL! You guys make it easy for me.

[rinsd]

13. "I have $10 that says Clinton was one of the 309."

And blind hatred just leaves you blind.

[depakid]

43. You're about 12 years late....

Clinton's FCC could have restore responsible regulation of the media- but instead, he sold everyone- especially his own party out.

[riqster]

12. Just sent Zack Space a flame mail

Damn, I had high hopes for him. Turns out, he's better than Ney, but that's about all.

[Gloria]

14. This vote came in under the radar...why wasn't there an email

campaign to our reps over this issue???????

Kiss it good-bye. And we get to see all those "issue" ads right up to election time, too!

[yurbud]

15. astonishing. This would be a good one for counting chamber of commerce versus progressive Dems

especially since they thought no one was looking.

[paulk]

16. Vichy Dems, huh? Sure are a lot of them...

OTOH, maybe they did the right thing. It's not 1929 anymore, afterall. Consumers have a lot more sources to find information at than they did back then. I have to agree with David Obey -

"At the end of yesterday’s debate, Democratic House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (Wis.) agreed with Republicans that the government should not regulate conservative radio hosts such as Limbaugh and Hannity.

“We ought to let right-wing talk radio go on as they do now,” he said. “Rush and Sean are just about as important in the scheme of things as Paris Hilton, and I would hate to see them gain an ounce of credibility by being forced by a government agency or anybody else to moderate their views enough that they might become modestly influential or respected.” "

-----------------


I'm not at all comfortable with the idea of government regulating what is conservative and what is liberal. Let the marketplace decide.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

17. The market is broken. That is part of why we need the Fairness Doctrine revived

Successful progressive talk show hosts like Ed Shultz are shut-out in some markets by right-wing run corporations or stations that want to maintain an all-conservative line-up. 24/7 right-wing propaganda on the radio is healthy for democracy?

[paulk]

20. I am really uncomfortable with the idea of government

dictating to a radio station what shows they can or cannot not run based on political criteria. I think that that is not healthy for democracy. It may have been necessary back in 1929, but times have changed.

People are free to get their information wherever they please. No one is being forced to listen to Rush Limbaugh. No one is being forced to read Democratic Underground.

--------------


The real problem is media consolidation, which allows a "Clearchannel" to dominate a local market. The Telecommm. Act clearly needs to be revisited, hopefully with a Dem in the White House. But that has nothing to do with the fairness doctrine.

[Greyhound]

24. Not forced in the sense of being tied to a chair and made to listen,

but there are vast swaths of America that have no radio stations that carry any alternative to the 24/7 drumbeat of Faux/EIB. The only choice those people have is to not listen to anything.

A radio station in a medium sized city (I think it was in Kansas) just lost their "liberal" station when the reich-wing bought the station and replaced the #1 rated progressive line-up with the Limpballs, Insanity, Larson, etc. gang that has sent the rating into the toilet, primarily because there are already 3 other stations with the same line-up.

Phoenix went through a similar scenario a year or so back, Air America was climbing the ratings improving with each book, when the station was sold to a company that broadcasts all Dog all the time. The reich-wing willingly spends the relatively small investment to keep progressive ideas off the air.

This is why the Fairness Doctrine came into being in the first place, and why it was repealed.

[IndyJones]

38. They are not forced to listen to conservative radio. There is music, etc. And if

liberals or indies are that concerned, then they should go into those markets and compete.

Besides, there is always XM or Sirius. I don't buy that there are never alternatives now in most areas.

[Greyhound]

45. Music is not talk, and I'd like a definition of etcetera.

Talk radio is the most listened to format on American radio now, and allowing a couple of companies to dictate what people are allowed to hear over the public airwaves is just wrong.

[Zhade]

31. Well sure you are, when the effect is to limit liberal speech.

NT!

[IndyJones]

37. I agree with you. This is ridiculous.

It assumes people are too stupid to decide what they will or will not listen to. Even if stations were to be forced to add more so called liberal content, it wouldn't make anyone listen to it and they'd probably put it on at midnight or whenever listening times were slow.

[ClassWarfare2008]

19. The "marketplace" is the problem!

Because (in the case of radio) it is controlled by 3 companies, Clear Channel, Infinity, and Entercom.

If there were a legitimate marketplace "deciding", you wouldn't have a 69% right wing - 31% progressive split of talk radio in San Francisco, arguably the most liberal city in the US.

"Let the marketplace decide" only works when real competition is possible. And in radio, as it is with so many other industries these days, it simply isn't. Repealing the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and restoring the Fairness Act would be a good start. Then enforcing existing antitrust laws and breaking up some of these companies which control way too much of the media.

[enough already]

26. The marketplace clearly isn't working

We need to regulate these pricks out of business now. Another very disappointing sellout by our "representatives".

[hatrack]

28. The market HAS decided - that's why news is shit, 24/7

Missing blond high school students, Paris,Lindsay & Britney, things that go "Boom!" and all the car chases in the world.

Enjoy your market-forces-determined "news".

[Pastiche423]

18. I asked this in the GE thread, but got no response

Does anyone know where to find the language of this bill?

My rep, Pete DeFazio and Dennis Kucinich both voted against this bill. It makes no sense, unless there was something bad in the bill.

You can't get more "for the people" than the above esteemed lawmakers.

[robcon]

21. Since when is the Fairness Doctrine a Democratic plank????

I think any restriction on free speech is unconstitutional.

first amendment...

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

[Heath Hatcher]

22. Your right about what you said robcon

And that why I was glad the fairness doctrine got shot down in Congress. I don't believe that the Government should tell radio stations what they can and can't put on the radio and if you don't like what Rush and Hannity are saying you are more then welcomed to turn it off because no ones forces you to listen to that crap, I know I don't and i'm a happier and sane man for it. We got Mike Malloy on the radio and that's just fine with me. This bill won't make me think less of the Democrats and fact i'm proud of the ones who voted down this bill saying that it's wrong for the government to dictate what and when radio stations can put on there stations.

[Hippo_Tron]

23. The people own the airwaves, they get to regulate them

It has long been established that said regulations don't violate free speech. Granted I'm not 100% sure I'm in favor of the fairness doctrine.

[Zhade]

32. Uh, completely irrelevant argument, since the FD ADDS speech. It censors nothing.

Your argument is, once again, based on a conservative lie.

[MasonJar]

29. So let them cut back on Conservative talk shows!

[Zhade]

30. Wow, that's a lot of elected Dems who don't believe in full free speech.

Amazing how so many of them protect the rightwing.

[Drix]

33. Public Airwaves are just that........PUBLIC!!!

The public airwaves is a public entity just like highways, libriaries, or parks. If broadcasters can't make a profit presenting balanced views of issues facing the communities they serve they're in the wrong business. The public airwaves is not a charity program for radio networks. Just because investors could make more money we don't turn over Yellowstone National Park to Donald Trump to build strip bars and casinos because they are more profitable than nature trails. We don't allow only one political view of books available at a public library. Why allow only one point of view on our public airwaves? They are not a resource for conservative and Republican views exclusively.

When 41% of the public believe Iraq was involved in 9/11 and the majority of Amercans get their news from these outlets what further proof is needed that broadcasters have failed miserably at keeping the public informed on matters of national importance.

All citizens including Liberals pay tax to maintain the public airwaves. Fair representaion of news and commentary of all tax payers is vital to an informed democracy.






What Are the Broadcasters’ Responsibilities?

Individual radio and television station licensees are responsible for selecting all broadcast matter and for determining how their stations can best serve their communities.

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/freespeech.html

[Heath Hatcher]

34. I still don't believe the government has any business what people can or cannot

Listen to on the radio, if I radio station want to stockpile it's programming schedule with nothing but conservatives that's theire business. If you don't like or you necessarily don't agree what your hearing on the radio your more then welcomed to turn the station off and find something better to listen to. I think we all(including myself) take talk radio too seriously. I mean I love Mike Malloy to death and he's really entertaining but I don't everything he says seriously because most of the time he rants and stuff same as I nevertake anything I hear come out of Rush's mouth seriously. Were all getting bent out of shape for nothing..seriously.

[Drix]

41. Public Airwaves are for All Taxpayers

You're right. The government does not have any business telling people what they can or cannot listen to on the radio. That's not the issue. No one is forcing people to listen to the radio. Just like nobody is forcing anybody to go to a public library. But if I go to a public library I will be very upset if I find that books from liberal authors have been excluded.

This is an issue of public access and fair tax representation. Public airwaves are for everyone.

[unkachuck]

35. funny....

"Opponents of the Fairness Doctrine argue that radio stations would suffer financially if forced to air liberal as well as conservative programs because liberal talk radio has not proven popular or profitable."

....from 1929 to about, what, 1985?, when the Fairness Doctrine was scrapped, I didn't notice any corporate broadcasters going bankrupt because of the Fairness Doctrine....

....this vote only makes sense if you realize that the republican and democratic parties are really just the A and B wings of the American Capitalist Party....this also explains why being progressive in the democratic party is a punishable offense....

[Heath Hatcher]

36. " I didn't notice any corporate broadcasters going bankrupt because of the Fairness Doctrine...."

That's because back then there wasn't that many liberal broadcasters on the radio(it's just now that were starting to get back into the business)so it didn't matter back then nor does it matter now. Look talk radio isn't something that should be taken seriously, it's used for entertainment and not for a real news source so who cares what Rush and co. are saying about Liberals on his show, more then half of his listener base are clueless morons (A.K.A Dittoheads) so what difference does it make?

[Norquist Nemesis]

42. Too funny! Mr. Bolton's bias shines in that "report"

So, the House votes on a bill that the Cons bring up as a strawman and Bolton offers up a quote from a Democratic Senator.

:eyes:

[xchrom]

44. way to go!!

i don't care too much if someone wants to kill them selves -- but why do they have to cut the country's throat while doing it?